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Kayaker in distress saved by Mudeford RNLI

Lifeboats News Release

At 10.06am on Saturday 25 March, the Mudeford lifeboat was requested to launch, in response to a kayaker in distress.

Stock photo of Mudeford Lifeboat 'Mudeford Servant'

RNLI/Paul Dunt

Stock photo of Mudeford Lifeboat 'Mudeford Servant'

The alarm was raised by a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) which works by sending out a GPS signal. The signal was quickly picked up by HM Coastguard who requested the Mudeford Lifeboat to launch. Mudeford Servant, the in-shore lifeboat, launched into force 6 winds and moderate sea conditions. In addition to entering the GPS co-ordinates into the navigational equipment, the crew tuned the radio direction finder (DF) to the PLB frequency.

As the lifeboat rounded Hengistbury Head they contacted the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) lookout to ask them to assist with a visual search of the area. The Mudeford RNLI volunteer crew arrived at the search area 2 miles WSW of Hengistbury Head, using the DF to guide them towards the casualty.

At the same time the Hengistbury Head NCI spotted a kayak and directed the lifeboat to the rescue location. Consequently, only 11 minutes after launching, the crew reached the casualty holding onto his kayak.

He had set off as one of a group of six experienced kayakers, traveling from Poole Bay to Avon Beach. As the weather conditions had worsened, his paddle broke. Realising he had become separated from the group, he recognised the potential danger in his situation and switched on his PLB, which resulted in his quick rescue.

The casualty was recovered onto the lifeboat, where he was assessed to be cold but otherwise well. After a short sea and land search, RNLI shore crew located the rest of the party safe and well at Avon Beach, where Southbourne Coast Guard also attended.

The casualty commented, ‘The team were amazing; everyone really knew what they are doing. I can’t thank them enough – their speed, efficiency and skill was amazing. The crew was fantastic.’

Ian Parker, helm, stated, ‘I believe that, in this case, having the right equipment saved his life. From the lifeboat he was only visual from approximately 300 meters due to sea conditions. Not only do PLBs alert the coastguard that someone is in distress, but SAR units have the ability to locate them in quick time. This was a great multi agency effort.’

Media Contacts:

· Louise Adams, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Mudeford RNLI (07776) 236300 [email protected]

· Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (South East), 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]

· For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789



Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

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